Water Treatment Workshop Planned As Alliance Forms

Water treatment is increasingly becoming an issue for growers. But the Water Education Alliance for Horticulture, a partnership of companies and universities, intends to provide information and answers on technologies through its interactive Web site, articles and on-site workshops.

The University of Florida hosts the alliance, which can be found online here. Its next water treatment education workshop is August 20, at Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, N.H. The workshop will be a daylong event, and those who attend will tour the greenhouse and learn how different technologies can be used to treat water from industry experts. Jim Smith can be contacted for free registration.

“The key to these workshops is turning one operation’s particular situation into a story that many can learn from,” says Paul Fisher, an alliance leader. “We strive to ensure that everyone walks away from an alliance activity–whether the Web site, a workshop or an article–with new knowledge.”

Much of the information on water treatment technologies that has been released so far relates to pools and spas, municipal water supplies or post-harvest crop treatment, Fisher says. Some of those findings are worthwhile to the horticultural industry, but the information is always easily accessible.

A new educational video that provides information on the horticultural industry’s essential role in bee and pollinator stewardship is one result of industry collaboration by the Horticultural Research Institute, AmericanHort, Society of American Florists and the American Floral Endowment. “Protecting Bees & Pollinators: What Horticulture Needs to Know,” narrates the current state of bee and pollinator health, provides information on factors that impact pollinators and the environment and underscores the beneficial role horticulture plays in providing healthy pollinator ecosystems.

Vegetable breeding companies will come together this August to host the Summer Vegetable Trials in California. Like the long-standing California Spring Trials that are held annually in California, attendees will have the opportunity to visit breeding companies' trial sites in seven locations throughout the state, from August 20-21, 2015. National Garden Bureau (NGB), the non-profit organization promoting gardening on behalf of the horticulture industry, is organizing and publicizing this event on behalf of its members.

DNA Green Group and Riknplant have finalized DNA Green Group's acquisition of Rijnplant, meaning that the breeding and propagation activities in pot and cut anthurium, bougainvillea and heliconia will transfer to DNA Green Group.

The Horticultural Research Institute will grant $125,000 in financial support for four key projects as part of the Horticultural Industry Bee & Pollinator Stewardship Initiative. The Initiative has three primary goals. First, to convene a task force to develop a bee and pollinator stewardship program, including creation of best management practices for plant production. Second, to identify and fund research that will help answer key science questions and fill gaps needed to design and refine the stewardship program. Third, to seek to positively position the horticultural community and its customers by collaborating with other compatible groups interested in augmenting pollinator habitat and protection.

If you are pursuing a floriculture research project, now is the time to apply for funding through the American Floral Endowment. Research pre-proposal applications for 2015-2016 funding are due to AFE by June 1, 2015.

AmericanHort announces the revised American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) is now available for industry use. The Standard reflects the consensus of the industry regarding how nursery stock — living plants other than annuals — should be specified and sold within the trade.

With its recent purchase of a farm in Colombia, Darwin Perennials is ready to amp up supply of its perennial genetics, to provide growers with tried-and-true varieties and comprehensive production specifications.